Testimonies

Hi my name is Shimali Goonetilleke and im 20 years old

It is a well known fact that you meet God in a crisis. I, personally came to experience Him more deeply in such a crisis two years ago. It was about a problem I had with a friend. This was a period of misunderstanding, arguments, backbiting and everything that is bitter…. I was so fed up of dealing with this problem I finally decided to let go, and let God take control. I just told God, that this was too much to take. I have messed up my life so many times; searching for people I thought would make me happy. I told myself, that’s it, I’m letting go, for God to take control.

This decision I made, changed my life considerably. Months passed by, and I joined with our youth group to go to India for the International Youth Retreat at the Divine Retreat Center. Although I had gone to Divine many times before, the experience I had this time was quite different. I came back to Sri Lanka as a totally changed person.

I saw the world with a different eye. I had a personal relationship with God. He was no longer someone far away, someone who just happened to exist somewhere in a place called Heaven. But He truly lived in and around me. I was able to talk to Him, hear Him, and read and understand the Holy Bible in a different perspective. He didn’t just become my Father, but my Best Friend!!!

I no longer depend on a relationship or a person, because that emptiness I had in my life is filled with the Love of God.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20

Praise the Lord!!

My name is ashika and im 20 years old. The Lord has blessed me with many things in my life but of all that what I treasure the most is His unconditional Love for me. No matter how much I’ve drifted away from Him, in His Love and mercy He has brought me back. This new life He has gifted me with cannot be compared with any other. I’ve tried to be happy in many ways but none of it gave me true happiness.

If I talk about me, I was a person who prayed pretty often. Went for mass every Sunday and whenever possible and was apart of many religious activities. Yet I was living my own life. I did what I thought was right.

I would like to share one incident in my life which changed me completely and really opened my eyes to the Love of Jesus.

In the year 2005, I was 17, and thought I knew how to live my life and made my own decisions. I thought I was ready for a relationship and so I started one. It was all good and everything went on well, little by little without my knowledge I was drifting away from God and I did things which any young person would think was okay. By now I was living a completely different life centered on my relationship, and started drifting away from God. After sometime the relationship started falling apart, and I suddenly felt the danger of letting go of the same relationship that I thus far considered to be my life. How am I going to let go..? How will I forget all the memories? How am I going to handle the pain? So many questions just crowded my mind. I couldn’t see myself living alone.

Meanwhile my father was a part of the community of the risen Lord and he attended all the prayer meetings and I started going for it too. I knew the only solution I had was Jesus but I didn’t know how to go back to the religious life I once lived. God seemed so far away and I felt so sinful. I felt like Peter who denied Jesus. But then I started going for the prayer meetings continuously and asked God’s pardon and I was pleading for his mercy. Even at this time I was not over my relationship and I was asking God for strength to let go. At this time I got to know of the annual youth retreat in India at the divine retreat centre. That was the turning point in my life. It changed me completely. At the inner healing service I was completely liberated. All the hurt, rejection, loneliness and emptiness in my heart just disappeared. I felt so happy and free after a long time. Jesus took control of my life and made me new.

And today I stand before many people and proclaim of God’s mighty Power and Love. He has used me to change people’s lives and to give them new Hope. This happiness and fulfillment I receive I cannot get from any other person or any other thing. So my brothers and sisters JESUS LOVES YOU ANYWAY, whether you are aware of it or not. He is waiting to pour out His love on each and every one of us, if only we give him a chance.

I was once sinful and thought people could make me happy but now everything is new. JESUS IS MY EVERYTHING, I live for Him and Him alone. Nothing in this world matters to me because MY GOD LOVES ME!!!!!

Hi I am Kauchi and im 21 years old, My childhood was nothing close to being the prettiest fairy tale knit; quite sadly this was the attitude I had before I met the Lord. And quite rightfully enough I have always let my past influence my present and decide my future.

Sprouting from a wounded past, I always had an inferiority complex which I camouflaged with an outgoing and daring personality. I always saw myself as the most depressing person on earth and for the first 19 years of my life I thought nothing could be done about it. It was my hurt, my depression, my guilt, my pain and I willfully claimed the ownership of all the hurts in my past, refusing to hand them over even to the Lord.

And suddenly God bought me to a point where he showed me what a looser I was, to be holding on to events that were long gone, and refusing the love and freedom he was waiting to give me. At this point I had 2 choices, live a looser life feeling sorry for myself or take a step of faith to let myself go into the hands of my Jesus. Praise the Lord!! I chose the latter (more like God guided me to the latter) Little by little as I let God take hold of my life; I started seeing an outpouring of the unconditional love my God had for me despite of my shortcomings.

Jesus set me free from a wounded past, he gave new meaning to my existence, he bore my shame and gave me his love, Joy and peace. I no longer have to pretend, because the joy in me is what my Jesus gave!! And I would live the rest of my life only to declare his Glory, for when I was lost he found me, when I was weak he strengthened me and when I was pleading for security he embraced me with the warmth of his love and promised me that he would never let me go.

All Glory to God

The Lord is My Light and My Salvation; I will Fear No One, The Lord Protects Me From All Danger; I Will Never Be afraid. - Psalm27:1

My Name is Anisha Dias. I am 22years old. I come from an upper middle class background where my family included people who were really church going Catholics who attended Sunday mass or novenas etc.Where as for me I did all that as an obligation and not as my thirst or the Love of my Sweet Jesus.

I was a person who was always surrounded by many friends. I always liked having people around me gaining attention, appreciation and recognition. While in my Teenage years my life always revolved around my friends of what they said, how they thought, how well I could fit in to my clique and how can I please them and so on, until I met the Lord.

I was a person who got into a lot of mess in my younger days with so many relationship issues one after another I desperately looked for love from people until I realized that there is a greater love waiting for me in the arms of my Sweet Jesus.

God has transformed me completely into a totally new being, and I am free in his presence. It really feels good to be set free and I know that I will never be the same again. Thank you Jesus for saving my life.

"The Word became Flesh"
I was asking Jesus for help to come out of pain, loneliness & Sinful nature. But He blessed me with His Love, Joy & Peace which fulfilled every single desire of my heart, which kept a STOP for my inner struggle & revealed his plan and he placed me on the highest peak, which I never dreamed of. Then only I realized that my plan for myself is so small compared with the great plan he had on his mind. He revealed me that the base of “my plan” for my life is Doubt, Stress, Uncertainty and a lot of Human attempts where as his perfect plan is simply relaxation and Assurance. The below story is what Jesus planned for me in the year 2004, when I really wanted someone, to tell everything, as in “my own”, which in deed made me realize who I am – His beloved SON.

I was used to be a person who was suffering from a lot of problems as far as my personality is concerned. My character was dependent on other people where I was measuring myself compared to other people in order to make sure that I’m better than them and at the same time which made me depressed and disappointed so easily.

In the Year 2004, I was looking forward for a good Job in the banking sector. The word “Good” had a lot of meaning to it as I was suffering from ego which wanted me to be better than others in everything. My dear Brothers and Sisters I applied for all the Banks in Sri Lanka (which I thought prestigious) and was waiting for three months, I didn’t receive a single reply from any. By knowing that all my friends were going to continue their higher studies, the passion was created for me also to do the same. At this point I was focused on myself and trying out all the options in the book to find my own happiness.

Then the urge came in September-04 for me to look for institutions where I can continue my higher studies. At that period of time our financials were all drained up where we all went through a major renovation at home. Even though I knew that, I really wanted to do my searching because the dream became so big on me doing a degree. Mind you my dear bro’s and sis’s, I visited every single institute in Colombo, all were too big for me to handle in terms of cost. After playing this game of searching for a more than a month I went in to depression. I was facing so much of pain because;

1. I was alone – loneliness was haunting me (all my friends were totally occupied with so many interesting topics where I was all alone stuck at home) 2. My life was just as a ship sailing blind – didn’t know what to do, where to go / where to look for (security of life was shattered)

In October-04, in the strangest way I experienced Jesus for the first time in my life in a tangible way. I was depressed, searching for answers, where one of my friends gave me an Audio CD which had the title “God Will Make a Way” (which was the first step of God’s perfect execution). Been alone in my room I started listening to the CD and the 2nd song – “God will make a way – where there seems to be no way” was playing. Suddenly I felt so uncomfortable listening to the song because the song was directly talking to me. I ended up crying the whole evening. Crying because the first glimpse of- god was revealed to me.

Within no time, I started attending Wednesday prayer meetings at St. Peter’s College and was so challenged seen this different life. From the first meeting itself the Hope factor was re focused towards god because I never had any option. Having doubts mixed with faith, I continued to come for the meeting. Even though I was not developed in the spirit to believe in word of Knowledge’s, the one said, “My son I have a great plan for you and just wait in patience and believe in me” was stuck on my mind. On my birthday in October when I called a couple of my friends to my place, was the day, Jesus gave me the manual of my life. (Where I was operating without a Manual all these years)

I received a Bible as a present (The best present ever). There was Book mark which taught me a lesson from the word go, that God can talk to me through this SPECIAL book. The message was in Psalm 32:8 (I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you). Even though I wasn’t telling other friends, tears came in to my eyes when I read it. Hope multiplied within me and the assurance came that “He’ll make a way”.

According to lords direction I went to the industry which I hated for no reason for a long time, which is Garments. From that point, the saying “The lord will open doors for you and if there’s no door, he’ll create a door and open it for you” was justified. I had to pay Rs. 200,000 within One month for registration, which was the only amount we had as our family savings. On a Wednesday (Prayer Meeting), a word of knowledge was mentioned that “for a person who’s praying for a decision whether to use all of money on studies, god says – “My son I left 99 sheep, searching for one and that’s you, if I’m taking that risk to love you, why not you trust in me, for I’m behind everything” go ahead my grace is upon you””. Directly I took a call and told my parents to invest on me. Even though my parents were carrying the burden of doubt, I wasn’t. I was sure he’ll do something for my betterment. 6 months later I received a scholarship for my performance for the semester, which was exactly a reimbursement of Rs. 100,000. (When God promises he delivers, that’s the specialty of been Catholic – you have access to an account which has unlimited resources and the PIN is Faith)

After 2 years of study, one of the best Textile Universities in the world made a visit to the Institute which I was studying. They accredited our Advance Diploma and gave exemptions to the first three years of their Bachelors Degree and gave the opportunity for us to complete another year and gain the Bachelors degree in Applied Science. (For me it was more than a dream come true). Due to gods perfect execution of his plan, I became the batch top of the Advance Diploma. (I personally know how I did my exams and I know that I’m not the type to become a batch top because I was having another struggle which prevented me from studying – where I experienced god’s love even more, therefore it was god and him alone)

The relevant CEO of that institution was pushing me to do the Degree program and they wanted me to do the payment of Rs. 350,000 within 2 weeks in order to stand a start. When I communicated to my parents they were looking at various ways of finding it for me. Even though I wanted to do it, I personally took a decision that I will not put the weight on my parents regarding the matter as a sacrifice for my parents.
I went and met the CEO who wanted me to do the program, and I told him that due to the financial crisis which my family is facing, I won’t be able to follow the program. The worse part of it is that I created a story for my parents saying that the course doesn’t carry any weight, in order to make them not feel guilty of my decision. After 2 weeks, the top management of that Institute, invited me also for the launch. I hope now you’ll understand what kind of struggle that I went through by seen all my batch mates happily collecting there registration documents + References (a pain of a person who’d love to continue studies but stopping it due to financial implications).

Believe me bro’s and sis’s, the director of the whole group of companies asked me to come and meet him on the launching day and told me, “Son I know your problem, consider the Rs. 350,000 is paid, but when you become a rich person like me, do the same thing to another”. Praise the Lord! Tears were filling my eyes and I couldn’t say much to him and internally I was shocked, how can god love a person like me (A self centered sinner), who am I?, why loving me like this? And what did I do to him to love me like this? questions were bothering me a lot. But now I know his love for us, is not dependent on anything.

I finished it in grand fashion by becoming the batch top again under lords anointing. Lords perfect execution of a chapter of my life summarized at the graduation in Australia where I stood in front of a huge crowed (25,000 approx) listening to the song “You Raise me Up”. How can one call this a coincidence? While I was listening to the song, I started praising the lord and for the first time in my life I experienced tangible voice of god with a vision of how I struggle for a Job, studies and so many other things. Voice of God said , “My son look at you now and three years ago, this is only a chapter of your life, a lot more is yet to come just trust in me- I love you”. I’m delivered, and he justified the statement “when you are weak, I’m strong”, indeed god’s love Is so amazing and so beautiful. When I was touched by his love, I was gifted with extra consciousness, and everything became so clear and simple and I believe Sin is when you don’t do the will of God, nothing else and even if you commit sin, his grace is sufficient for you.

If anyone asks me what is the best thing happened in your life, I have no doubt to tell that it’s the relationship which I’m having with Jesus. He is / will be the only person who loves me for who I am.

Jesus Loves You All.

My name is Errol and I am 23 years old. In my teenage years I had a lot of friends and I got into the habit of listening to rock music. Later on I became an addict to rock music, without my knowledge. With that I started to go to parties and slowly got into the habit of drinking as well. I used to think of myself as a grown up whenever I got drunk. My relationship with my parents was not healthy as well. The reason for that was that my father was also an alcoholic and I did not like the way that he behaved at functions when we attended as a family.

Our life continued on like this for sometime until the day that my father met our LORD JESUS CHRIST. He completely stopped drinking and smoking from that day. He has been under this addiction for more than 20 years. I noticed that my father had changed, but now my parents began to go for these meetings where they prayed in a very different way. I told them that this is not the way that we pray, and it is not Catholic. But I still remember that day in my life, when I came to that meeting, where people were raising their hands and praising god.

I WAS TOUCHED BY THAT LOVE! One thing that I could say is that I was broken and the lord FIXED me! From that day onwards the lord has made my family a beautiful and loving family and he has led me to serve him. Oh the joy that fills my heart when I think of themighty wonders that the Lord has done to me!

PRAISE THE LORD!

I have never read a bible or even prayed to God, or knew who God was really. Never gone for confession either. I have heard of these meetings, where people get healed and they testify, and that its lovely. So I decided to just come for one meeting and see how people get healed and how they testify.

When the meeting started, I didn’t do anything but just listen and have my hands down and together. But there were some people on stage praying by themselves and when everybody started to join and pray together, I felt some sort of a feeling going from my chest upto my head. This happened 2-3 times. I sang along with the others as the lyrics were projected.

During the message, even though I didn’t understand anything, I didn’t feel bored nor sleepy, which was surprising.

Then the last part came, where everyone was standing, and prayers were going on and singing. I felt very weak and was trembling. At that point I was feeling these feelings going from my chest area to my legs and then all over my body. I didn’t have any strength to stand, so I was holding on to the chair in front.

I suddenly started to tear. And halfway, some people were saying words of knowledges. Then a lady spoke and said that God is speaking to a brother who has a blocked nostril and for him to surrender his life and start breathing the air that God want him to breath.

I was tearing a lot and I felt like it was for me and was spoken to me. I claimed it as my office friend said I need to accept it to get healed. Because from birth I had a nose problem where the bone is slightly to one side and breathing was very difficult every morning, with a running nose all the time. That particular week I was afraid that I would die in my sleep because my nose gets blocked when im sleeping and I breathe from my mouth leaving my throat sore and dry in the morning. I made a doctors appointment earlier in the week and when I went to the doctor few days after the Wednesday meeting, the doc. didn’t say anything about operating but said nothings seems to be wrong and he was justifying saying it must me because of the weather.

Sine then I had this desire and love to experience this awesome feeling all the time, but since I work till 9 -10 in the night I didn’t get the chance. But I managed to attend a few meetings by putting leave..

Then I came for the 4 step retreat at st peters on 30th April and on the 1st day, I felt soo touched that I was crying a lot. More than how I teared during my first encounter with the lord, but I didn’t go for confession, but instead made my confession to God directly by sitting silently and giving the truth of my heart.

The second day came, and I had to come there late because of classes, I started to tear as soon as I walked in and started to sing. Then I was called to the balcony, and spent the rest of the meeting there. During the last step, the Eucharist was given to all, but I didn’t take it, but had my right hand over my left as if im holding the actual piece. My eyes were closed and I imagined the Eucharist is on top of my palm and when the father was telling us to write our name and happy and sad moments, I could see it being imprinted in red flamey writing. I could feel that my whole life was in that piece of bread.

When we were done, and asked to give the Eucharist it back to the usherer which contains our whole life, I saw my piece being lifted from my hands and go towards the sky. I felt that God was taking it, and at that moment I sat and tears were just flowing out of my eyes and I was crying and crying and there was a mini puddle of my tears on the floor. While crying I felt my life being squeezed out and its been taken away from me. I couldn’t stop crying. Then suddenly I felt a hand on my right shoulder, which made me cry even more. This hand felt so soft like cotton wool and had the perfect warmth and weight.

It took me a long time to recover, and after I finished crying, I could see everything but my mind wasn’t thinking things nor lurking into deep thoughts, instead I felt empty, peaceful and so wonderful at the same time.

Then at one point we were standing and praying and holding our hands together. Then Lalith uncle told to shout to Jesus. So I did and I felt that my English words were not English any more, and that my tongue was moving in a very fast way, I normally couldn’t do. Normally this would have seemed impossible as I’m tongue tied and have never moved my tongue that way it did at that moment. I was scared and wanted to stop. But when I opened my mouth again it was the same non English words coming out.

After the meeting I met an uncle from the community, and he said that I have got the gift of tears, touch and tongue.

Praise the lord.

But the amazing thing is that I’m not a Christian.

Praise the lord.

Hi! My name is Inuk. I’m 25 years old. I just want to tell you’ll about my life. At 16 I thought drinking and smoking was cool. So I began trying it out. I was having fights with my parents about my life. Wanted more freedom and space. I wanted to belong to an awesome group of friends in school that happened as well, thought we had the coolest bunch. Got involved in violence, fights, felt good and accepted .thought being a ruggerite was really up-there. I thought a girl friend would make me really happy, got into a relationship. One day had a fight with my father, got really beaten up he was pretty upset (day I got caught smoking) and I thought why should I stay here and I ran away that night. Was back cause of my mom’s desire, but I returned with pride. I knew they were afraid that I’ll do the unexpected again, so I thought I was on top of them. I had to leave school before my A/L’s cause I hadn’t being prepared for my exams. And took a short for my higher studies.

Things didn’t change much , went to ICBT started playing rugger, loved the sport, but loved the popularity too. Began avoiding lectures and going to friend’s places, the beach and boozing day after day. I thought getting high was a serious kick. I thought it was life’s climax, started doing weed more often and thought it was the most awesome experience. We started clubbing and partying heavily. And I thought drinking to fall was the greatest memory. I remember I used to come home drunk after classes, I thought it was the coolest thing to do, you know. The situ at home became crazy, parents and I started yelling and fighting. I remember coming home drunk one day and my father started the usual yelling. He told me that I’ll realize only the day “I lift his coffin”. Drunk, I replied, ”Let’s see whose coffin who lifts first.” I thought I was not afraid to take my own life if ever I’d had enough. Within a year my father suffered a sudden heart attack and it took his life. I remembered my own words when I lifted his coffin that day.

My life changed.. Now, it was just me, my mother and two sisters. I realized I needed to work and my father’s brother asked if I’d like to work with him. He was a very successful businessman and I joined him. After working with him for some time, he made me a Director of the company. He told me I was one of his sons now and he will give me a business of my own to run someday. And I remember thinking that my future in a moment was sorted. Because I was born into a middle class family and I wasn’t used to luxuries at all but now suddenly, because of my uncle’s love for my father, I had been positioned for a million rupee future. That was the greatest day of my life. It was like winning a jackpot. Suddenly I was carrying a business card that read me as a ‘Director’. My head swelled. I was only 21 years. My life style changed and I started going night clubbing frequently. Felt like a king. We travelled around sometimes with bodyguards who worked for high profiled friends of mine. I tasted the power of not being able to be challenged by anyone. By now I was hooked on to alcohol and fags. Party life had taken control, every night was now a booze night, forgot about my mom and everything. One day my uncle and me had a huge disagreement and I had swelled up in my head by then and I thought I had it with him, and decided to just do stuff on my own, I didn’t know he was just trying to put me right for the future business he would give me. I just thought he was hard to get along with and thought what the hec. Left him without even informing him, mean while got a chance to go to Aussie for a holiday, and when I experienced that place I thought this is it man! The girls, the clubs, the night life, easy money, laid back, I was going to be back soon, for good. Start business here, and prosper!!Whooo!

Came back to Lanka house was all to myself, mom was in Aussie still, got my friends over and we partied hard night after night, for a whole month. Weed became our daily supplement for laughter. But the unexpected happened, my plans to go to Aussie that year failed and suddenly I had no job, no future, no Aussie and was hooked on the wrong things. At that point I was a goner, was not thinking straight, just boozing and hanging out , until I realized I’ve really lost control of my life and other things control me now, and I think I need help. I was in a relationship as well and suddenly she called it off, and I lost the only happiness I had left. My mom told me there’s a prayer meeting at St Peters College, come. I had gone to this stuff on and off like going to church just to please my folks sometimes. (Was a good boy on a rainy day)

I went there, and I bumped into a young guy, my age, I knew him, I also knew he used to load himself with a revolver and party around in clubs, and hang around with underworld figures as well. But he had become different and at the prayer meeting he told me about the lord Jesus and he was giving me some spiritual advice. He told me go to a quiet place and listen to some hymns or something , I didn’t know why he told me that. Next day I woke up, I saw a cd on the dining table named “take ma higher, worship CD” I knew it was from the prayer meeting, suddenly remembering my friends words, I took it inside my room and played it. I was seated on the bed, listening, the first song played, and the second... and now I was really listening to the words , and trying to look for something, maybe god. And suddenly as the 3rd song was going on I just felt something happening in the room, inside of me, something strange, I began remembering things I have done in my life that were bad, that hurt others, my mom , things I have forgotten, things I didn’t care about, they all began crashing into my thoughts. My heart suddenly felt heavy , like someone had unloaded a block of concrete, I lost control of my emotions, I didn’t know what hit me, I just began to weep, and cry just out of the blue, and I don’t know what happened but after some time I felt a peace and calmness I haven’t felt before. I knew something had happened . God was becoming real. I ran out of the room saw my mom getting ready to go somewhere, I asked her where she was going , she said prayer meeting, I said I’m coming, she was surprised, she saw the tears , red eyes of mine. Went to the meeting caught hold of my revolver pal and told him what had happened in my room few hours ago. And asked for an explanation. He told me it was god’s love that I experienced his very presence in my room, I didn’t know whether to be happy or sad, me a wasted guy , for god to visit!!! To experience his love?? After all I’ve done?? My friend said go inside brother and follow the prayer meeting, went inside, a thousand people worshiping , raising hands and crying out to god. Just like the CD. I was standing in the crowd and I felt a electric surge go through my body, a energy rushing and whirling inside my body, all I knew was , I didn’t have to be told, like a new born know he’s mom, I knew this was god himself, his presence, what can I do?? Tears began to flow from my eyes, then the preacher began to speak about god , his love, his desire for me, every word , burnt my heart, I felt as if someone was burning my heart and body. I went home that evening with an experience that shook my life.

Next day as usual I went to uni , met my bro’s, but I couldn’t smoke of drink I tried, but it was as if I have never done it in my life, I felt new, brand new. And I told my friends what happened. They were shocked , left speechless. Maybe because the last thing we would ever discuss was god . He had freed me from my addictions of alcohol, smoking and weed. In a moment I was set free. And the biggest miracle I didn’t have the craving or desire for any of that, I wondered here did those desires go, as if someone had erased it from the black board, it had suddenly disappeared. My life changed, every prayer meeting became a god meeting, where I felt the power and current of god through my body. Experiencing his love enfold me and hold me became my hearts greatest desire, and I began my love relationship with god. Free inside, happy , joyful , and enjoying life with god and my bro’s to the fullest. He thought me to be loved and to love, he gave me new life, a clean slate, and meaning to my existence.

Now I’m 25 yrs, serving the lord Jesus, living for him,
Miracles that happened since then (in the 2 years I’ve experienced god’s love)
Don’t need booze, fags or weed, money, cars, top jobs or relationships to make me happy
Mom and I became best pals
Was invited to work for the lord full time in Christian ministry
Dad’s brother (uncle) and I became prayer partners
Started traveling the world ( India , England, Israel, )
RECEIVED A CAR WRAPPED IN A RIBBON FOR MY BIRTHDAY
Met the loveliest girl in my life after a year and half with the lord
I got married 2 months ago
800 guests at the wedding don’t know how the money came to feed them all ( was working full time for the lord until then , didn’t have any money)
Received a house of my own to live.
Was invited to IT Company in Sri Lanka as a partner/director) out of the blue and now in business again
But I will exchange all of this any day any time for his love in my life that began this story. That began this journey.

My brother , my sister, come and experiences him, he loves you the same, dare to experience a love you’ll never experience or know....

My name is Gayal. It was during the time I was studying for my O Level examination that my parents’ marriage ran into heavy weather. As time passed, the disagreements and fighting became more severe, so much so that we were afraid to leave our mother alone at home. My younger brother and I took turns to keep our mother company as we were afraid that our father will come along and do something terrible to her. As a result, I could not attend school as much as I would have liked to.

As I changed schools to study for my A levels, I made new friends, who were probably not the best of company to keep. As the fighting and bickering at home continued to escalate, I stayed away from home and hung out with my friends instead. My father had an extra marital relationship and every one seemed to know about it. Every time I got on the street I felt that people were whispering things behind my back. I was so ashamed. Things that other youth my age would do in secret, I started doing in public. I hoped that my father would confront me and try to admonish me. I would then get the chance to tell him “who are you to tell me how to live when you are such a bad example”. Fortunately or unfortunately, my father never confronted me. I used to get into fights often. I was not able to sit for my A level examination as I sustained a serious injury just prior to my exam

After leaving school I got myself a job. As I now had more money to play around with, I began drinking heavily and graduated to smoking cannabis and the like. I also made friends with some mafia style gangsters, commonly known as the underworld in Sri Lanka.

One day I had an accident at work and sustained a spinal injury. I was bedridden for three months and during this time I felt that even my friends had deserted me. I assumed that I would not be able to lead a normal life again. Meanwhile the oppression my mother was going through weighed heavily on my mind. One thing led to another and I decided that I should kill my father and then commit suicide.

On the 16th of February 2006, I put my plan into action. I met one of my friends and obtained a weapon. What happened thereafter was totally unexpected.

As I got home my brother told me that there was a youth program taking place at the Pannipitiya church. My mother chipped in and told me that she would like me to attend this program, which was to start at 1 PM. . I scoffed at the idea and went to sleep hoping to wake up at around 1.30 and executing my plan. However as I woke up early, I thought I should walk past the church, just to kill time.

Bro Lalith was preaching when I got there. He was talking on “come as you are – I love you”. I laughed and thought to myself “what utter nonsense are these people are talking about”. However, as Bro Lalith continued to speak, it seemed as though he knew exactly what was happening in my heart and was talking directly to me. I soon became totally engrossed. When it was time for confessions, I heard a voice behind me saying “My son, you must forgive your father”. I turned around and looked behind me, but I saw no one. Instead I saw a blue light, and in it I began to see my family; my father, my mother my brother and sister, they were laughing and happily talking to each other – just like the days before my O level examination. Simultaneously, it hit me what a wretched sinful man I was. That day I made my confession for the very first time in my life. I cried as never before. The entire front of my shirt was soaked in tears. The pew in front of me was completely wet. That day I went back home a different man.

As I returned home that evening, a miracle had taken place. My father was in the kitchen and was in a cordial conversation with my sister. The usual arguments and bickering was gone and happiness had returned. Today I am a changed man, my father is a changed man, and God has blessed my entire family.